- Joined
- Mar 25, 2002
- Messages
- 4,477
- Reaction score
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As some of you know, I'm trying to get a study published on MSTP graduate match outcomes.
This study will now never be published.
The reason why is that I did not get an approval or exemption from the Institutional Review Board prior to doing any data collection. Many of you know that I posted an webpage way back in 2005 based on some of the stuff here. I had no idea that this stuff could even be publishable at the time. The IRB considers even starting the work prior to asking IRB for permission as grounds to deny approval or exemption.
As one can imagine, exempted human subjects research could constitute a gigantic swath of research. I could try for example to publish how many people have names that begin with "A" by using a telephone book, and if I even opened the book, I would lose my chance to get IRB approval, and therefore be published in any reputable journal.
Recommendations:
1) If you have ANY idea that you want to START a human subjects project that might lead to publication, submit a protocol to your IRB. If you already have any data, you might as well throw away your work, because it will never be published.
2) For future reference for all investigators, READ THE RULES. The standard IRB training students receive is nothing in comparison to knowing the full legalese. Inflexible IRBs will use this against you.
3) I am strongly of the opinion that in this and other cases, certain rules of the IRB act to hurt and quench research, without any benefit to protecting human subjects.
If you will be attending the Keystone conference later this month, I'll be there to present some of my work. Hope to see you there.
This study will now never be published.
The reason why is that I did not get an approval or exemption from the Institutional Review Board prior to doing any data collection. Many of you know that I posted an webpage way back in 2005 based on some of the stuff here. I had no idea that this stuff could even be publishable at the time. The IRB considers even starting the work prior to asking IRB for permission as grounds to deny approval or exemption.
As one can imagine, exempted human subjects research could constitute a gigantic swath of research. I could try for example to publish how many people have names that begin with "A" by using a telephone book, and if I even opened the book, I would lose my chance to get IRB approval, and therefore be published in any reputable journal.
Recommendations:
1) If you have ANY idea that you want to START a human subjects project that might lead to publication, submit a protocol to your IRB. If you already have any data, you might as well throw away your work, because it will never be published.
2) For future reference for all investigators, READ THE RULES. The standard IRB training students receive is nothing in comparison to knowing the full legalese. Inflexible IRBs will use this against you.
3) I am strongly of the opinion that in this and other cases, certain rules of the IRB act to hurt and quench research, without any benefit to protecting human subjects.
If you will be attending the Keystone conference later this month, I'll be there to present some of my work. Hope to see you there.
